The Scarlet Letter | Progressively Translated Portuguese A2 Books

The Scarlet Letter | Progressively Translated Portuguese A2 Books

Experience the benefits of this forward-thinking translation strategy that tailors language learning to your specific needs. You have control over the difficulty, which ensures that the content is neither too easy nor overly challenging. This method enhances your ability to understand new words through context, reducing reliance on direct translations. While the translations are subtly obscured to foster learning, you can still look up unclear terms. This balanced approach makes language acquisition smoother and more enjoyable. Delve into these translated literary works and discover the satisfaction of mastering a language through reading.

THECUSTOM-HOUSE.
INTRODUCTORYTO“THESCARLETLETTER.”
tisalittleremarkable,that—thoughdisinclinedtotalkovermuchofmyselfandmyaffairsatthefireside,andtomypersonalfriends—anautobiographicalimpulseshould
duas vezes
twice
inmylifehavetakenpossessionofme,inaddressingthe
público
public
.
Thefirsttimewasthreeorfouryearssince,whenI
favoreci
favored
thereader—inexcusably,andfornoearthlyreason,thateithertheindulgentreaderortheintrusiveauthorcouldimagine—withadescriptionofmywayoflifeinthedeepquietudeofanOldManse.
Andnow—because,beyondmydeserts,Iwashappyenoughtofindalistenerortwoontheformeroccasion—Iagainseizethe
público
public
bythebutton,andtalkofmythreeyears’
experiência
experience
inaCustom-House.
Theexampleofthe
famoso
famous
“P.P.,ClerkofthisParish,”wasnevermorefaithfullyfollowed.
Thetruth
parece
seems
tobe,however,that,whenhecastshisleavesforthuponthe
vento
wind
,theauthoraddresses,notthemanywhowillflingasidehisvolume,ornevertakeitup,butthefewwhowillunderstandhim,betterthanmostofhisschoolmatesorlifemates.
Someauthors,indeed,dofarmorethanthis,andindulgethemselvesinsuchconfidentialdepthsofrevelationascouldfittinglybeaddressed,onlyandexclusively,totheoneheartandmindofperfectsympathy;
asiftheprintedbook,
lançado
thrown
atlargeonthewideworld,were
certo
certain
tofindoutthedividedsegmentofthewriter’sown
natureza
nature
,andcompletehiscircleofexistencebybringinghimintocommunionwithit.
Itisscarcelydecorous,
no entanto
however
,tospeakall,evenwherewespeakimpersonally.
But,asthoughtsarefrozenandutterancebenumbed,
a menos que
unless
thespeakerstandinsometruerelationwithhisaudience,itmaybepardonableto
imaginar
imagine
thatafriend,akindandapprehensive,thoughnottheclosestfriend,islisteningtoourtalk;
andthen,anativereservebeingthawedbythisgenialconsciousness,wemayprateofthecircumstancesthatliearoundus,andevenofourself,butstillkeeptheinmostMebehinditsveil.
Tothisextent,andwithintheselimits,anauthor,methinks,maybeautobiographical,withoutviolatingeitherthereader’srightsorhisown.
Itwillbeseen,likewise,thatthisCustom-Housesketchhasacertainpropriety,ofakindalwaysrecognizedinliterature,as
explicando
explaining
howalargeportionofthefollowingpagescameintomypossession,andas
oferecendo
offering
proofsoftheauthenticityofanarrativethereincontained.
This,infact,—adesiretoputmyselfinmytrue
posição
position
aseditor,orverylittlemore,ofthemostprolixamongthetalesthatmakeupmyvolume,—this,andnoother,ismytruereasonforassuminga
pessoal
personal
relationwiththepublic.
Inaccomplishingthemainpurpose,ithasappearedallowable,byafewextratouches,togiveafaintrepresentationofamodeoflifenotheretoforedescribed,togetherwithsomeofthecharactersthatmoveinit,amongwhomtheauthorhappenedtomakeone.
InmynativetownofSalem,attheheadofwhat,halfacenturyago,inthedaysofoldKingDerby,wasabustlingwharf,—butwhichisnowburdenedwithdecayedwoodenwarehouses,andexhibitsfewornosymptomsofcommerciallife;
exceto
except
,perhaps,abarkorbrig,half-waydownitsmelancholylength,discharginghides;
or,nearerathand,aNovaScotiaschooner,pitchingouthercargooffirewood,—atthehead,Isay,ofthisdilapidatedwharf,whichthetide
muitas vezes
often
overflows,andalongwhich,atthebaseandintherearoftherowofbuildings,thetrackofmanylanguidyearsisseeninaborderofunthriftygrass,—here,withaviewfromitsfrontwindowsadownthisnotveryenliveningprospect,andthenceacrosstheharbor,standsaspaciousedificeofbrick.
Fromtheloftiestpointofitsroof,
durante
during
preciselythreeandahalfhoursofeachforenoon,floatsordroops,inbreezeorcalm,thebanneroftherepublic;
butwiththethirteenstripesturnedvertically,
em vez
instead
ofhorizontally,andthusindicatingthatacivil,andnota
militar
military
postofUncleSam’s
governo
government
ishereestablished.
Itsfrontisornamentedwithaporticoofhalfadozenwoodenpillars,
apoiando
supporting
abalcony,beneathwhichaflightofwidegranitestepsdescendstowardsthestreet.
OvertheentrancehoversanenormousspecimenoftheAmericaneagle,withoutspreadwings,ashieldbeforeherbreast,and,ifIrecollectaright,a
monte
bunch
ofintermingledthunderboltsandbarbedarrowsineachclaw.
Withthecustomaryinfirmityoftemperthatcharacterizesthisunhappyfowl,sheappears,bythefiercenessofherbeakand
olho
eye
,andthegeneraltruculencyofherattitude,tothreatenmischieftotheinoffensivecommunity;
and
especialmente
especially
towarnallcitizens,carefuloftheirsafety,againstintrudingonthepremiseswhichsheovershadowswithherwings.
Nevertheless,vixenlyasshelooks,manypeopleareseeking,atthisverymoment,toshelterthemselvesunderthewingofthefederaleagle;
imaginando
imagining
,Ipresume,thatherbosomhasallthesoftnessandsnugnessofaneider-downpillow.
Butshehasnogreattenderness,eveninherbestofmoods,and,soonerorlater,—oftenersoonthanlate,—isapttoflingoffhernestlings,withascratchofherclaw,adabofherbeak,oraranklingwoundfromherbarbedarrows.
Thepavementroundabouttheabove-describededifice—whichwemayaswellnameatonceastheCustom-Houseoftheport—hasgrassenough
crescendo
growing
initschinkstoshowthatithasnot,oflatedays,been
usado
worn
byanymultitudinousresortofbusiness.
Insomemonthsoftheyear,
porém
however
,thereoftenchancesaforenoonwhenaffairsmoveonwardwithaliveliertread.
SuchoccasionsmightremindtheelderlycitizenofthatperiodbeforethelastwarwithEngland,whenSalemwasaportbyitself;
notscorned,assheisnow,byherownmerchantsandship-owners,whopermitherwharvestocrumbletoruin,whiletheirventuresgotoswell,needlesslyandimperceptibly,themightyfloodofcommerceatNewYorkorBoston.
Onsomesuchmorning,whenthreeorfourvesselshappentohavearrivedatonce,—usuallyfromAfricaor
Sul
South
America,—ortobeonthevergeoftheirdeparturethitherward,thereisasoundoffrequent
pés
feet
,passingbrisklyupanddownthegranitesteps.
Here,beforehisownwifehasgreetedhim,youmaygreetthesea-flushedshipmaster,justinport,withhisvessel’spapersunderhis
braço
arm
,inatarnishedtin
caixa
box
.
Here,too,comeshisowner,cheerfulorsombre,graciousorinthesulks,accordinglyashisschemeofthenowaccomplishedvoyagehasbeen
realizado
realized
inmerchandisethatwillreadilybeturnedto
ouro
gold
,orhasburiedhimunderabulkofincommodities,suchasnobodywillcareto
monte
rid
himof.
Here,likewise,—thegermofthewrinkle-browed,grizzly-bearded,care-wornmerchant,—wehavethe
inteligente
smart
youngclerk,whogetsthe
gosto
taste
oftrafficasawolf-cubdoesofblood,andalreadysendsadventuresinhismaster’sships,whenhehadbetterbesailingmimic-boatsuponamill-pond.
Another
figura
figure
inthesceneistheoutward-boundsailorinquestofaprotection;
ortherecentlyarrivedone,paleandfeeble,seekingapassporttothehospital.
Nem
Nor
mustweforgetthecaptainsoftherustylittleschoonersthatbringfirewoodfromtheBritishprovinces;
arough-lookingsetoftarpaulins,withoutthealertnessoftheYankeeaspect,butcontributinganitemofnoslightimportancetoourdecayingtrade.
Clusteralltheseindividualstogether,astheysometimeswere,withothermiscellaneousonestodiversifythe
grupo
group
,and,forthetimebeing,itmadetheCustom-Houseastirring
cena
scene
.
Morefrequently,however,onascendingthesteps,youwoulddiscern—intheentry,ifitwere
verão
summer
time,orintheirappropriaterooms,ifwintryorinclementweather—arowofvenerablefigures,sittinginold-fashionedchairs,whichweretippedontheirhindlegsbackagainstthe
parede
wall
.
Oftentimestheywereasleep,butoccasionallymightbeheardtalkingtogether,invoicesbetweenspeechandasnore,andwiththatlackof
energia
energy
thatdistinguishestheoccupantsofalmshouses,andallotherhumanbeingswhodependforsubsistenceoncharity,onmonopolizedlabor,oranythingelse,buttheirownindependentexertions.
Theseoldgentlemen—seated,likeMatthew,atthereceiptofcustoms,butnotveryliabletobesummonedthence,likehim,forapostolicerrands—wereCustom-Houseofficers.
Furthermore,onthelefthandasyouenterthefrontdoor,isacertainroomoroffice,aboutfifteen
pés
feet
square,andofaloftyheight;
withtwoofitsarchedwindowscommandingaviewoftheaforesaiddilapidatedwharf,andthethirdlookingacrossanarrowlane,andalongaportionofDerbyStreet.
Allthreegiveglimpsesoftheshopsofgrocers,block-makers,slop-sellers,andship-chandlers;
aroundthedoorsofwhicharegenerallytobeseen,
rir
laughing
andgossiping,clustersofoldsalts,andsuchotherwharf-ratsashaunttheWappingofaseaport.
Theroomitselfiscobwebbed,anddingywitholdpaint;
its
chão
floor
isstrewnwithgraysand,inafashionthathaselsewherefallenintolongdisuse;
anditiseasytoconclude,fromthe
geral
general
slovenlinessoftheplace,thatthisisasanctuaryintowhichwomankind,withhertoolsof
magia
magic
,thebroomandmop,hasveryinfrequentaccess.
Inthewayoffurniture,thereisastovewithavoluminousfunnel;
anoldpinedesk,withathree-leggedstoolbesideit;
twoorthreewooden-bottomchairs,exceedinglydecrepitandinfirm;
and—nottoforgetthelibrary—onsomeshelves,ascoreortwoofvolumesoftheActsofCongress,andabulkyDigestoftheRevenueLaws.
Atinpipeascendsthroughtheceiling,and
forma
forms
amediumofvocalcommunicationwithotherpartsoftheedifice.
Andhere,somesixmonthsago,—pacingfromcornertocorner,orloungingonthelong-leggedstool,withhiselbowonthedesk,andhiseyeswanderingupanddownthecolumnsofthemorningnewspaper,—youmighthaverecognized,
honrado
honored
reader,thesameindividualwhowelcomedyouintohischeerylittlestudy,wherethesunshineglimmeredsopleasantlythroughthewillowbranches,onthewesternsideoftheOldManse.
Butnow,shouldyougothithertoseekhim,youwouldinquireinvainfortheLocofocoSurveyor.
Thebesomofreformhasswepthimoutofoffice;
andaworthiersuccessor
usa
wears
hisdignity,andpocketshisemoluments.
ThisoldtownofSalem—mynativeplace,thoughIhavedweltmuchawayfromit,bothinboyhoodandmatureryears—possesses,ordidpossess,aholdonmyaffections,the
força
force
ofwhichIhavenever
percebi
realized
duringmyseasonsofactualresidencehere.
Indeed,sofarasitsphysicalaspectisconcerned,withitsflat,unvariedsurface,coveredchieflywithwoodenhouses,fewornoneofwhichpretendtoarchitecturalbeauty,—itsirregularity,whichisneitherpicturesquenorquaint,butonlytame,—itslongandlazystreet,loungingwearisomelythroughthewholeextentofthepeninsula,withGallowsHillandNewGuineaatoneend,andaviewofthealmshouseattheother,—suchbeingthefeaturesofmynativetown,itwouldbequiteasreasonabletoformasentimentalattachmenttoadisarrangedchecker-board.
Andyet,thoughinvariablyhappiestelsewhere,thereiswithinmeafeelingforoldSalem,which,inlackofabetterphrase,Imustbecontenttocallaffection.
Thesentimentisprobablyassignabletothedeepandagedrootswhichmyfamilyhasstruckintothesoil.
ItisnownearlytwocenturiesandaquartersincetheoriginalBriton,theearliestemigrantofmyname,madehisappearanceinthe
selvagem
wild
andforest-borderedsettlement,whichhassincebecomeacity.
Andherehisdescendantshavebeen
nasceram
born
anddied,andhavemingledtheirearthysubstancewiththesoil;
untilnosmallportionofitmustnecessarilybeakintothemortalframewherewith,foralittlewhile,Iwalkthestreets.
Inpart,therefore,theattachmentwhichIspeakofisthemeresensuoussympathyofdustfordust.
Fewofmycountrymencanknowwhatitis;
nem
nor
,asfrequenttransplantationisperhapsbetterforthestock,needtheyconsideritdesirabletoknow.
Butthesentimenthaslikewiseitsmoralquality.
The
figura
figure
ofthatfirstancestor,investedbyfamilytraditionwithadimandduskygrandeur,was
presente
present
tomyboyishimagination,asfarbackasIcanremember.
Itstillhauntsme,andinducesasortofhome-feelingwiththepast,whichIscarcelyclaiminreferencetothe
atual
present
phaseofthetown.
I
pareço
seem
tohaveastrongerclaimtoaresidencehereonaccountofthisgrave,bearded,sable-cloakedandsteeple-crownedprogenitor,—whocameso
cedo
early
,withhisBibleandhissword,andtrodetheunwornstreetwithsuchastatelyport,andmadeso
grande
large
afigure,asamanofwarandpeace,—astrongerclaimthanformyself,
cujo
whose
nameisseldomheardandmyfacehardlyknown.
Hewasasoldier,legislator,
juiz
judge
;
hewasarulerinthe
Igreja
Church
;
hehadallthePuritanictraits,bothgoodandevil.
Hewaslikewiseabitterpersecutor,aswitnesstheQuakers,whohaverememberedhimintheirhistories,andrelateanincidentofhishardseveritytowardsawomanoftheirsect,whichwilllastlonger,itistobe
temer
feared
,thananyrecordofhisbetterdeeds,althoughtheseweremany.
Hisson,too,inheritedthepersecuting
espírito
spirit
,andmadehimselfsoconspicuousinthemartyrdomofthewitches,thattheirbloodmayfairlybesaidtohaveleftastainuponhim.
Sodeepastain,indeed,thathisolddrybones,intheCharterStreetburial-ground,muststillretainit,iftheyhavenotcrumbledutterlytodust!
Iknownot
se
whether
theseancestorsofminebethoughtthemselvestorepent,andaskpardonof
Céu
Heaven
fortheircruelties;
or
se
whether
theyarenowgroaningundertheheavyconsequencesofthem,inanother
estado
state
ofbeing.
Atallevents,I,the
presente
present
writer,astheirrepresentative,herebytake
vergonha
shame
uponmyselffortheirsakes,and
rezar
pray
thatanycurseincurredbythem—asIhaveheard,andasthedrearyandunprosperousconditionofthe
raça
race
,formanyalongyearback,wouldarguetoexist—maybenowandhenceforthremoved.
Doubtless,
porém
however
,eitherofthesesternandblack-browedPuritanswouldhavethoughtitquiteasufficientretributionforhissins,that,aftersolongalapseofyears,theoldtrunkofthefamily
árvore
tree
,withsomuchvenerablemossuponit,shouldhaveborne,asitstopmostbough,anidlerlikemyself.
Noaim,thatIhaveevercherished,wouldtheyrecognizeaslaudable;
nosuccessofmine—ifmylife,beyonditsdomesticscope,hadeverbeenbrightenedbysuccess—wouldtheydeemotherwisethanworthless,ifnotpositivelydisgraceful.
“Whatishe?”
murmursonegrayshadowofmyforefatherstotheother.
“Awriterofstory-books!
Whatkindofabusinessinlife—whatmodeofglorifyingGod,orbeingserviceabletomankindinhisdayandgeneration—maythatbe?
Why,thedegeneratefellowmightaswellhavebeenafiddler!”
Sucharethecomplimentsbandiedbetweenmygreat-grandsiresandmyself,
através
across
thegulfoftime!
Andyet,letthemscornmeastheywill,strongtraitsoftheir
natureza
nature
haveintertwinedthemselveswithmine.
Planteddeep,inthetown’searliestinfancyandchildhood,bythesetwoearnestandenergeticmen,the
raça
race
haseversincesubsistedhere;
always,too,inrespectability;
never,sofarasIhaveknown,disgracedbya
único
single
unworthymember;
butseldomornever,ontheotherhand,afterthefirsttwogenerations,performinganymemorabledeed,orsomuchasputtingforwardaclaimto
público
public
notice.
Gradually,theyhavesunkalmostoutofsight;
asoldhouses,hereandthereaboutthestreets,getcoveredhalf-waytotheeavesbytheaccumulationofnewsoil.
Fromfathertoson,forabovea
cem
hundred
years,theyfollowedthe
mar
sea
;
agray-headedshipmaster,ineachgeneration,retiringfromthequarter-decktothehomestead,whileaboyoffourteentookthehereditaryplacebeforethemast,confrontingthesaltsprayandthegale,whichhadblusteredagainsthissireandgrandsire.
Theboy,also,induetime,
passou
passed
fromtheforecastletothecabin,
passou
spent
atempestuousmanhood,andreturnedfromhisworld-wanderings,togrowold,anddie,andminglehisdustwiththenatalearth.
Thislongconnectionofafamilywithonespot,asitsplaceofbirthandburial,createsakindredbetweenthehumanbeingandthelocality,quiteindependentofanycharminthesceneryormoralcircumstancesthatsurroundhim.
Itisnotlove,butinstinct.
Thenewinhabitant—whocamehimselffromaforeign
terra
land
,orwhosefatherorgrandfathercame—haslittleclaimtobecalledaSalemite;
hehasnoconceptionoftheoyster-liketenacitywithwhichanoldsettler,overwhomhis
terceiro
third
centuryiscreeping,clingstothe
lugar
spot
wherehissuccessivegenerationshavebeenimbedded.
Itisnomatterthattheplaceisjoylessforhim;
thatheiswearyoftheoldwoodenhouses,themudanddust,thedead
nível
level
ofsiteandsentiment,thechill
leste
east
wind,andthechillestofsocialatmospheres;—allthese,andwhateverfaultsbesideshemayseeor
imaginar
imagine
,arenothingtothepurpose.
Thespellsurvives,andjustaspowerfullyasifthenatal
local
spot
wereanearthlyparadise.
Sohasitbeeninmycase.
IfeltitalmostasadestinytomakeSalemmyhome;
sothatthemouldoffeaturesandcastofcharacterwhichhadallalongbeenfamiliarhere,—ever,asonerepresentativeofthe
raça
race
laydowninhisgrave,anotherassuming,asitwere,hissentry-marchalongthemainstreet,—mightstillinmylittledaybeseenandrecognizedintheoldtown.
Nevertheless,thisverysentimentisan
evidência
evidence
thattheconnection,whichhasbecomeanunhealthyone,shouldatlastbesevered.
Human
natureza
nature
willnotflourish,anymorethanapotato,ifitbeplantedandreplanted,fortoolongaseriesofgenerations,inthesameworn-outsoil.
Mychildrenhavehadotherbirthplaces,and,sofarastheirfortunesmaybewithinmycontrol,shallstriketheirrootsintounaccustomedearth.
OnemergingfromtheOldManse,itwaschieflythis
estranho
strange
,indolent,unjoyousattachmentformynativetown,thatbroughtmetofillaplaceinUncleSam’sbrickedifice,whenImightaswell,orbetter,havegonesomewhereelse.
Mydoomwasonme.
Itwasnotthefirsttime,
nem
nor
thesecond,thatIhadgoneaway,—asit
parecia
seemed
,permanently,—butyetreturned,likethebadhalf-penny;
orasifSalemwereformetheinevitablecentreoftheuniverse.
So,onefinemorning,Iascendedtheflightofgranitesteps,withthePresident’scommissioninmypocket,andwasintroducedtothecorpsofgentlemenwhoweretoaidmeinmyweightyresponsibility,aschiefexecutiveofficeroftheCustom-House.
I
duvido
doubt
greatly—or,rather,Idonot
duvido
doubt
atall—whetheranypublicfunctionaryoftheUnitedStates,eitherinthecivilor
militar
military
line,haseverhadsuchapatriarchalbodyofveteransunderhisordersasmyself.
ThewhereaboutsoftheOldestInhabitantwasatoncesettled,whenIlookedatthem.
Forupwardsoftwentyyearsbeforethisepoch,theindependentpositionoftheCollectorhadkepttheSalemCustom-Houseoutofthewhirlpoolofpoliticalvicissitude,whichmakesthetenureofofficegenerallysofragile.
Asoldier,—NewEngland’smostdistinguishedsoldier,—hestoodfirmlyonthepedestalofhisgallantservices;
and,himselfsecureinthewiseliberalityofthesuccessiveadministrationsthroughwhichhehadheldoffice,hehadbeenthesafetyofhissubordinatesinmanyanhourofdangerandheart-quake.
GeneralMillerwasradicallyconservative;
amanover
cuja
whose
kindlynaturehabithadnoslightinfluence;
attachinghimselfstronglytofamiliarfaces,andwithdifficultymovedtochange,evenwhenchangemighthavebroughtunquestionableimprovement.
Thus,ontakingchargeofmy
departamento
department
,Ifoundfewbutagedmen.
Theywereancientsea-captains,forthemostpart,who,afterbeingtostonevery
mar
sea
,andstandingupsturdilyagainstlife’stempestuousblasts,had
finalmente
finally
driftedintothisquietnook;
where,withlittletodisturbthem,
exceto
except
theperiodicalterrorsofaPresidentialelection,theyoneandallacquiredanewleaseofexistence.
Thoughbynomeans
menos
less
liablethantheirfellow-mentoageandinfirmity,theyhadevidentlysometalismanorotherthatkeptdeathatbay.
Twoorthreeoftheirnumber,asIwasassured,beinggoutyandrheumatic,orperhapsbedridden,neverdreamedofmakingtheirappearanceattheCustom-House,
durante
during
alargepartoftheyear;
but,afteratorpidwinter,wouldcreepoutintothe
quente
warm
sunshineofMayorJune,golazilyaboutwhattheytermed
dever
duty
,and,attheirownleisureandconvenience,betakethemselvestobedagain.
Imustpleadguiltytothe
acusação
charge
ofabbreviatingtheofficialbreathofmorethanoneofthesevenerableservantsoftherepublic.
Theywere
permitiram
allowed
,onmyrepresentation,torestfromtheirarduouslabors,andsoonafterwards—asiftheirsoleprincipleoflifehadbeenzealfortheircountry’s
serviço
service
,asIverilybelieveitwas—withdrewtoabetterworld.
Itisapiousconsolationtome,that,throughmyinterference,asufficient
espaço
space
wasallowedthemforrepentanceoftheevilandcorruptpracticesintowhich,asamatterofcourse,everyCustom-House
funcionário
officer
mustbesupposedtofall.
NeitherthefrontnorthebackentranceoftheCustom-Houseopensonthe
estrada
road
toParadise.
ThegreaterpartofmyofficerswereWhigs.
ItwaswellfortheirvenerablebrotherhoodthatthenewSurveyorwasnotapolitician,andthoughafaithfulDemocratinprinciple,neitherreceivednorheldhisofficewithanyreferencetopoliticalservices.
Haditbeenotherwise,—hadanactivepoliticianbeenputintothisinfluentialpost,toassumetheeasytaskofmakingheadagainstaWhigCollector,
cujas
whose
infirmitieswithheldhimfromthe
pessoal
personal
administrationofhisoffice,—hardlyamanoftheoldcorpswouldhavedrawnthebreathofofficiallife,withina
mês
month
aftertheexterminatingangelhadcomeuptheCustom-Housesteps.
Accordingtothereceivedcodeinsuchmatters,itwouldhavebeennothingshortof
dever
duty
,inapolitician,tobringeveryoneofthosewhiteheadsundertheaxeoftheguillotine.
Itwasplainenoughtodiscern,thattheoldfellowsdreadedsomesuchdiscourtesyatmyhands.
Itpained,andatthesametimeamusedme,tobeholdtheterrorsthatattendedmyadvent;
toseeafurrowedcheek,weather-beatenbyhalfacenturyofstorm,turnashypaleattheglanceofsoharmlessanindividualasmyself;
todetect,asoneoranotheraddressedme,thetremorofa
voz
voice
,which,inlong-pastdays,hadbeenwonttobellowthroughaspeaking-trumpet,hoarselyenoughtofrightenBoreashimselftosilence.
Theyknew,theseexcellentoldpersons,that,byallestablishedrule,—and,asregardedsomeofthem,weighedbytheirownlackofefficiencyforbusiness,—theyoughttohavegivenplacetoyoungermen,moreorthodoxinpolitics,andaltogetherfitterthanthemselvestoserveourcommonUncle.
Iknewittoo,butcouldneverquitefindinmyheartto
agir
act
upontheknowledge.
Muchanddeservedlytomyowndiscredit,therefore,andconsiderablytothedetrimentofmyofficialconscience,they
continuaram
continued
,duringmyincumbency,tocreepaboutthewharves,andloiterupanddowntheCustom-Housesteps.
They
passaram
spent
agooddealoftime,also,
dormindo
asleep
intheiraccustomedcorners,withtheirchairstiltedbackagainstthe
parede
wall
;
awaking,however,onceor
duas vezes
twice
inaforenoon,toboreoneanotherwiththe
vários
several
thousandthrepetitionofoldsea-stories,andmouldyjokes,thathadgrowntobepasswordsandcountersignsamongthem.
Thediscoverywassoonmade,I
imagino
imagine
,thatthenewSurveyorhadnogreatharminhim.
So,withlightsomehearts,andthehappyconsciousnessofbeingusefullyemployed,—intheirownbehalf,atleast,ifnotforourbelovedcountry,—thesegoodoldgentlemenwentthroughthevariousformalitiesofoffice.
Sagaciously,undertheirspectacles,didtheypeepintotheholdsofvessels!
Mightywastheirfussaboutlittlematters,andmarvellous,sometimes,theobtusenessthat
permitia
allowed
greateronestoslipbetweentheirfingers!
Wheneversuchamischanceoccurred,—whenawagon-loadofvaluablemerchandisehadbeensmuggledashore,atnoonday,perhaps,anddirectlybeneaththeirunsuspiciousnoses,—nothingcouldexceedthevigilanceandalacritywithwhichtheyproceededto
trancar
lock
,anddouble-lock,andsecurewith
fita
tape
andsealing-wax,alltheavenuesofthedelinquentvessel.
Em vez
Instead
ofareprimandfortheirpreviousnegligence,thecase
parecia
seemed
rathertorequireaneulogiumontheirpraiseworthycaution,afterthemischiefhadhappened;
agratefulrecognitionofthepromptitudeoftheirzeal,themomentthattherewasnolongeranyremedy.
A menos que
Unless
peoplearemorethancommonlydisagreeable,itismyfoolishhabittocontractakindnessforthem.
Thebetterpartofmycompanion’scharacter,ifithaveabetterpart,isthatwhich
geralmente
usually
comesuppermostinmyregard,and
forma
forms
thetypewherebyIrecognizetheman.
AsmostoftheseoldCustom-Houseofficershadgoodtraits,andasmy
posição
position
inreferencetothem,beingpaternalandprotective,wasfavorabletothegrowthoffriendlysentiments,Isoongrewtolikethemall.
Itwaspleasant,inthe
verão
summer
forenoons,—whentheferventheat,thatalmostliquefiedtherestofthehumanfamily,merelycommunicatedagenialwarmthtotheirhalf-torpidsystems,—itwaspleasanttohearthemchattinginthebackentry,arowofthemalltippedagainstthe
parede
wall
,asusual;
whilethefrozenwitticismsofpastgenerationswerethawedout,andcamebubblingwithlaughterfromtheirlips.
Externally,thejollityofagedmenhasmuchincommonwiththemirthofchildren;
theintellect,anymorethana
profundo
deep
senseofhumor,haslittletodowiththematter;
itis,withboth,agleamthatplaysuponthesurface,andimpartsasunnyandcheeryaspectaliketothe
verde
green
branch,andgray,moulderingtrunk.
Inonecase,
no entanto
however
,itisrealsunshine;
intheother,itmoreresemblesthephosphorescentglowofdecayingwood.
Itwouldbe
triste
sad
injustice,thereadermustunderstand,torepresentallmyexcellentoldfriendsasintheirdotage.
Inthefirstplace,mycoadjutorswerenotinvariablyold;
thereweremenamongthemintheirstrengthandprime,ofmarkedabilityand
energia
energy
,andaltogethersuperiortothesluggishanddependentmodeoflifeonwhichtheirevilstarshadcastthem.
Then,moreover,thewhitelocksof
idade
age
weresometimesfoundtobethethatchofanintellectualtenementingoodrepair.
But,as
respeito
respects
themajorityofmycorpsofveterans,therewillbenowrongdone,ifIcharacterizethemgenerallyasasetofwearisomeoldsouls,whohadgatherednothingworthpreservationfromtheirvaried
experiência
experience
oflife.
Theyseemedtohaveflungawayallthegoldengrainofpracticalwisdom,whichtheyhadenjoyedsomanyopportunitiesofharvesting,andmostcarefullytohave
armazenado
stored
theirmemorieswiththehusks.
Theyspokewithfarmore
interesse
interest
andunctionoftheirmorning’s
almoço
breakfast
,oryesterday’s,to-day’s,orto-morrow’sdinner,thanoftheshipwreckoffortyorfiftyyearsago,andalltheworld’swonderswhichtheyhadwitnessedwiththeiryouthfuleyes.
ThefatheroftheCustom-House—thepatriarch,notonlyofthislittlesquadofofficials,but,Iamboldtosay,oftherespectablebodyoftide-waitersallovertheUnitedStates—wasa
certo
certain
permanentInspector.
Hemighttrulybetermedalegitimatesonoftherevenue
sistema
system
,dyedinthewool,or,rather,
nascido
born
inthepurple;
sincehissire,aRevolutionarycolonel,andformerlycollectoroftheport,hadcreatedanofficeforhim,andappointedhimtofillit,ataperiodoftheearlyageswhichfewlivingmencannowremember.
ThisInspector,whenIfirstknewhim,wasamanoffourscoreyears,orthereabouts,and
certamente
certainly
oneofthemostwonderfulspecimensofwinter-greenthatyouwouldbelikelytodiscoverinalifetime’s
busca
search
.
Withhisfloridcheek,hiscompact
figura
figure
,smartlyarrayedinabright-buttoned
azul
blue
coat,hisbriskandvigorous
passo
step
,andhishaleandheartyaspect,altogetherheseemed—notyoung,indeed—butakindofnewcontrivanceofMother
Natureza
Nature
intheshapeofman,whom
idade
age
andinfirmityhadnobusinesstotouch.
His
voz
voice
andlaugh,whichperpetuallyre-echoedthroughtheCustom-House,hadnothingofthetremulousquaverandcackleofanoldman’sutterance;
theycamestruttingoutofhislungs,likethecrowofacock,ortheblastofaclarion.
Lookingathimmerelyasananimal,—andtherewasverylittleelsetolookat,—hewasamostsatisfactoryobject,fromthethoroughhealthfulnessandwholesomenessofhis
sistema
system
,andhiscapacity,atthatextreme
idade
age
,toenjoyall,ornearlyall,thedelightswhichhehadeveraimedat,orconceivedof.
Thecareless
segurança
security
ofhislifeintheCustom-House,onaregularincome,andwithbutslightandinfrequentapprehensionsofremoval,hadno
dúvida
doubt
contributedtomaketime
passar
pass
lightlyoverhim.
Theoriginalandmorepotentcauses,
no entanto
however
,layintherareperfectionofhis
animal
animal
nature,themoderateproportionofintellect,andtheverytriflingadmixtureofmoralandspiritualingredients;
theselatterqualities,indeed,beinginbarelyenoughmeasuretokeeptheoldgentlemanfromwalkingonall-fours.
Hepossessednopowerofthought,nodepthoffeeling,notroublesomesensibilities;
nothing,inshort,butafewcommonplaceinstincts,which,aidedbythecheerfultemperthat
crescia
grew
inevitablyoutofhisphysicalwell-being,did
dever
duty
veryrespectably,andto
geral
general
acceptance,inlieuofaheart.
Hehadbeenthehusbandofthreewives,alllongsincedead;
thefatheroftwentychildren,mostofwhom,ateveryageofchildhoodormaturity,hadlikewisereturnedtodust.
Here,onewould
supor
suppose
,mighthavebeensorrowenoughtoimbuethesunniestdisposition,throughandthrough,withasabletinge.
NotsowithouroldInspector!
Onebriefsighsufficedtocarryoffthe
todo
entire
burdenofthesedismalreminiscences.
Thenextmoment,hewasasreadyforsportasanyunbreechedinfant;
farreadierthantheCollector’sjuniorclerk,who,atnineteenyears,wasmuchtheelderandgravermanofthetwo.
Iusedtowatchand
estudar
study
thispatriarchalpersonagewith,Ithink,liveliercuriosity,thananyother
forma
form
ofhumanitytherepresentedtomynotice.
Hewas,intruth,ararephenomenon;
soperfect,inonepointofview;
soshallow,sodelusive,soimpalpable,suchanabsolutenonentity,ineveryother.
Myconclusionwasthathehadno
alma
soul
,noheart,nomind;